India – Pakistan Tension: A recap of recent developments

Published

10 months ago

2025/05/8

Priyan

Pakistani soldiers stand guard at a mosque building damaged by a suspected Indian missile attack near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on May 7, 2025 [Aljazeera]

Pakistan has said 31 civilians have been killed and dozens wounded by India’s strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. India said 13 people have been killed in cross-border attacks from Pakistan, including one soldier.
Addressing parliament, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s military shot down five Indian fighter jets during India’s assault.
India claims its attacks have hit “terror” training sites; Pakistan says mosques and civilians were struck, calling it an “act of war” and promising a robust response.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee said it has authorised the country’s armed forces to retaliate against India’s attacks, saying Pakistan reserves the right to respond “at a time, place, and manner of its choosing”.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Islamabad is looking to avoid an all-out war with India, but must be prepared for one.
World powers – including the UK, France, Germany, Iran, Turkiye, Qatar and the UAE – have urged both nuclear-armed nations to show restraint and return to diplomacy.
Iran has offered to mediate peace talks, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already held separate discussions with both India and Pakistan over the past day.

Interactive_India_Pakistan_Arms_Race_May7_2025

[Aljazeera]

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Committee on Economic Surveillance to be established

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President to appoint the Committee on Economic Surveillance headed by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning and comprised of the relevant heads of the Institutions and eminencies in the field to provide recommendations to the Cabinet of Ministers on the essential policy precautions to be taken by constantly supervising the impact that can affect Sri Lankan economy due to the conflict in the Middle East.

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Nepal election 2026: Counting continues with rapper Balendra Shah’s party close to super-majority

Published

11 hours ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

[pic BBC]

Counting is continuing in Nepal as the party of rapper and ex-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah is potentially just one seat away from winning a super-majority in parliament.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party‘s win would mark the first time in decades that a single party has won a majority in Nepal, which has a two-system format that makes it difficult for any one party to win outright

If the RSP secures a two-thirds majority, it would also be the first time in decades that a single party has achieved this

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Madagascar military leader dissolves government in surprise move

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/10

Priyan

Col Michael Randrianirina seized power last October in the wake of youth-led protests [BBC]

Madagascar’s military ruler Col Michael Randrianirina has dissolved the government unexpectedly, dismissing the prime minister and the entire cabinet, according to a statement from his spokesperson.

“The government has ceased its functions” it said, adding that Randrianirina will appoint a new prime minister “in line with the provisions stipulated by the constitution”.

No reason was given for the move.

Randrianirina seized power last October from Andry Rajoelina, following weeks of youth-led protests on the Indian Ocean island. Rajoelina had been elected president for a third term in a disputed poll in 2023.

The demonstrations were over persistent power and water shortages, culminating in the army siding with the demonstrators.

Randrianirina has pledged to call new elections within two years.

Last December, the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), directed Madagascar’s military authorities to submit a roadmap for restoring democracy including plans for fresh elections by the end of February.

But in a surprise on Monday, Randrianirina sacked his entire government and assigned permanent secretaries to run ministries’ day-to-day operations until a new cabinet is formed.

Randrianirina has not explained the motivation for the mass sackings, but leaders of the Gen Z movement, whose grassroots mobilisation helped bring the military leader to power, have called for more inclusiveness in the transition process and greater representation in decision-making structures.

Activist groups, calling themselves Gen Z and Gen Y movements, had recently issued a 72-hour ultimatum for Randrianirina’s resignation, citing frustration with his performance, local media reported.

Businessman Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo had been appointed prime minister in October in an effort to bridge the divide between military leadership and civilian government.

The the Gen Z movement leaders rejected his appointment at the time, saying it was made in a “non-transparent” manner and “without consultation”.

The group demanded to know how Rajaonarivelo was selected given what it said were his connection to the previous government.

They then said that the decision “runs contrary to the desired structural change” the movement was seeking.

Monday’s dissolution of the government could mark a significant shift in the country’s political landscape with the military leader seeking to establish a new administration.

[BBC]